and every broken heart will mend

[scourgingstars]

[Not too long after the trial, a note found its way under everyone's doors, all of them written in the same neat handwriting that had been asking after a ring not that long ago.]

If any of you would prefer not to be left alone after all of that, I propose we meet in the dining hall. Nari has taken up cooking at the moment, and should anyone wish to talk I will be present regardless of whether or not the group at large should choose to join us.

-Ardyn

[True to his word, Ardyn was at a smaller table in the dining hall with an untouched cup of coffee in front of him; lost in thought leaning his head on one hand as the other turned a silver coin over between his fingers.]

[King in an empty hall, and savior of nothing. All that effort to prevent bloodshed, and it had come down to a situation designed to force their hand from the beginning.]

Comments

[desperateprayer]

...Thank you.

[ She'll at least not fight it. She's definitely on a downswing with the alcohol, and has slowed down. She's no as timid as before, but she is already nursing a bit of a headache after the completely awful day it's been. ]

[everylittlesecret]

After your tea is gone only drink water. The caffeine in the tea will help a little, but the water will flush out the alcohol. Do you need anything else?

[Yes. She's playing nurse right now, but it's better than nothing.]

[desperateprayer]

...Yeah.

[ She'll... Nurse the tea and poke at the snacks. ]

[everylittlesecret]

[..... She is going to pat Clarith gently on the head.]

I'm sorry. For... I don't know. Anything. Everything.... you know you can talk to me, okay?

[desperateprayer]

...When we escape, I don't... Know what I'll do. Ardyn offered me a home. I can't... Go home, Nari. I... I don't want to go back to that and be alone. I told him I'd give him an answer eventually, but... I... I don't know, Nari. I'm afraid.

[ ...It's just spilling out. She couldn't keep it in. ]

[everylittlesecret]

.... I think you'd fit in fine where I'm from. And like I said, women can marry women there. Sure, there's dickbags of all kinds there, but you'd be free to be yourself all the time.

[Okay, that earns Clarith a hug, which Nari delivers from behind. She rests her chin on Clarith's head, sighing.]

It's okay to be afraid. It's human.

[desperateprayer]

I'm not brave. I'm barely holding myself together. If I were honest, I'm tempted to just give up. But I can't do that after the promise I made to Mai.

[ Clarith is... Not okay. ]

...She's gone, Nari. She's gone and I... It sh-should have been me instead of Mikaela.

[everylittlesecret]

I know she's gone... and no, it shouldn't have been you, either. No one wanted her dead just like no one wants you dead, so don't say things like that!

[Don't make her shake you.]

As much as it sucks to hear this, even with the promise you made, fuck living for someone else. Live for yourself. So what if you promised Mai you wouldn't do anything? What would make you feel better right at this moment? Dying, hitting something, kissing Princess again? Tell me and we can make it happen.

[desperateprayer]

I... I don't know. I don't know, Nari. I don't know what to do or where to go from here. There's nothing left for me, but I...

[ ...She promised. That's all she does have left. To keep her going. Because Mai shouldn't have died like that. ]

[everylittlesecret]

..... Now that's a damn right lie. There's plenty of fucking things left for you. You've got friends here, despite the shit we're in after hearing your story you already have a better life here, and no one here is judging you for what you are. You have support here. You can be your own person here. Find a goal for yourself and stick to it.

[Just don't make it a person or a promise. At least not a promise to someone else.]